2015

Lewis: 6 Iceland Gulls (4 adults and 2 juveniles) and 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were between Eoropie and the Butt of Lewis. A Coot was on Loch Stiapabhat.

Benbecula: The drake Scaup is still on Coot Loch.

South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south at Ardvule this morning. 4 Iceland Gulls (a 2nd winter and 3 juveniles) were at Peninerine. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Stoneybridge. 2 Iceland Gulls (an adult and juvenile) were at Smerclate.

North Uist: 10 pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the North Ford this afternoon between Benbecula and Grimsay.

Benbecula: The drake Scaup is on Coot Loch.

South Uist: A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule today and a juvenile Iceland Gull flew south there. 5 Iceland Gulls (4 juveniles and a 2nd winter) were at Peninerine. 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were at Smerclate.

Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull (John Kemp)

25th February;

North Uist: 5 juvenile Glaucous Gulls, 3 Iceland Gulls (2nd winter and 2 juveniles) and 18 pale-bellied Brent Geese were between Kyles Paible and Rubh' Arnal this morning. A Little Gull was seen from the Lochmaddy Uig ferry today.

North Uist: An adult Iceland Gull flew north-west along the shore at Baleshare this morning; also 2 drake Pintail still on Loch na Paisg. The American Coot was seen on Loch nam Feithean today. 4 Iceland Gulls (an adult, 2nd winter and 2 juveniles) were at Balranald and another juvenile was at Loch na Reivil.

Benbecula: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew north at Stinky Bay.

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was in the bay at South Glendale. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 5 Iceland Gulls (an adult, 2nd winter and 3 x juveniles) were between Ludag and the Pollachar. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 6 Iceland Gulls (2 adults, a 2nd winter and 3 x juveniles) were between Smerclate and Garrynamonie. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Rubha Ardvule. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was Bornish machair. 6 Iceland Gulls (an adult, 2 x 2nd winters and 3 juveniles) were at Peninerine. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls (juvenile and 2nd winter) were at Ardivachar. A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in North Bay.

North Uist: 2 drake Pintail are still on Loch na Paisg, Balehsare and the juvenile Greenland White-fronted Goose was nearby.

South Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were in the bay at South Glendale today. 4 Iceland Gulls (3 juveniles and an adult) were at Ludag. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Smerclate.

Iceland Gulls (John Kemp)

22nd February:

Lewis: 7 juvenile Iceland Gulls and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were in Stornoway harbour today. 220 Bramblings were in the Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

North Uist: A drake Pochard is on Loch Eaval. A hybrid Wigeon x American Wigeon was on Loch nam Feithean. The female Ring-necked Duck, drake Green-winged Teal and drake Scaup were on Loch Sandary. An adult and juvenile Glaucous Gull were on Baleshare along with the 2 drake Pintails on Loch na Paisg.

South Uist: A Pomarine Skua flew north along the shore at Kildonan whilst an adult Iceland Gull flew south and a juvenile Glaucous Gull was hanging around.

21st February:

Lewis: An immature Glaucous Gull was in Carloway this morning.

North Uist: 2 drake Pintail and an immature Greenland White-fronted Goose were by Loch na Paisg, Baleshare. 20 Fieldfare were on Grimsay. The Firecrest is still in Grenitote.

Benbecula: A drake Scaup and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Coot Loch.

South Uist: 27 Snow Buntings were on the beach at Askernish this morning and a juvenile Iceland Gull flew south. A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew south over Milton. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Bornish machair and a juvenile Kumlien's Gull was in the bay next to Vo rran island, Stoneybridge.

20th February:

North Uist: The American Coot, a female Ring-necked Duck, 5 Pintail (3 drakes) and 8 Shoveler were at Loch nam Feithean with 3 Goldfinch nearby. Also at Balranald a juvenile and 2nd winter Iceland Gull as well as 21 Snow Buntings on Traigh Iar. A drake Pochard was on Loch Eaval. A drake Scaup was on Loch Sandary. An adult Iceland Gull was at Rubh' Arnal.

Gannet and Snow Buntings (Steve Duffield)

19th February:

North Uist: A Jack Snipe was seen in Carinish this morning. A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south past Aird and Runair this morning. The drake American Wigeon was still on the loch just east of the Loch Portain turning.

Benbecula: A drake Scaup was on Coot Loch this afternoon.

South Uist: A sea-watch from Rubha Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of 2 Fulmars, 45 Gannets, 11 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers, 14 Eiders, 7 Long-tailed Ducks, 30 Kittiwakes, a Black Guillemot and a Razorbill. a juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Bornish machair.

Cormorant and Eiders (John Kemp)

18th February:

South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south at Ardvule this morning.

17th February:

Lewis: A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was near Bragar today.

Harris: 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Luskentyre.

16th February:

North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and juvenile Kumlien's Gull were at Balranald this afternoon. The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean.

Benbecula: 50 Fieldfare were at Kilerevagh today. 4 Scaup (1 male) and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Coot Loch.

15th February:

North Uist: The 1st winter Ring-billed Gull was in fields at Tigharry again today.

14th February:

Benbecula: At least 2 Snow Buntings were at Borve Point.

South Uist: 30 Snow Buntings flew south over Ardkenneth this morning. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Vorran Island, Stoneybridge today. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and juvenile Kumlien's Gull were at the mouth of the Howmore River. 20+ Snow Buntings were with Twite to the north of Askernish machair.

Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)

13th February:

North Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare and the 2 drake Pintail were still on Loch na Paisg.

Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)

12th February:

North Uist: The Firecrest was singing in Grenitote today. 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare and 2 drake Pintail were on Loch na Paisg.

Benbecula: 2 immature Glaucous Gulls were by the co-op at Creagorry today.

Otter (Steve Duffield)

11th February:

Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Bayble today and 6 Barnacle Geese were with Greylags at Sheshader.

North Uist: A juvenile Greenland White-fronted Goose was on Baleshare today. 7 Goldfinch were in Carinish. The 1st winter Ring-billed Gull was in the field opposite the Clettreval turning.

9th February:

North Uist: The Richardson's Cackling Goose was at Sollas along with a hybrid Barnacle x Cackling Goose. The Firecrest was in the memorial plantation at Grenitote. A drake American Wigeon was on the loch just east of the Loch Portain turning. 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew north over Carinish this morning.

8th February:

North Uist: A Richardson's Cackling Goose (different to Baleshare bird) was with Barnacle Geese on the machair at Sollas today; also around 60 Snow Buntings present. The Firecrest was in Grenitote memorial plantation. A drake Goosander was on Loch na Maighdein.

Insects: The micro, Acleris hyemana was caught in South Glendale last night.

North Uist:2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare this afternoon. 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls, an adult and juvenile Icleand Gull, plus 15 Brent Geese were on the shore between Kyles Paible - Rubh' Arnal. The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean.

Benbecula: A drake Green-winged Teal was seen just south of Balivanich this morning.

South Uist: A Water Rail was in South Glendale. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and a juvenile Kumlien's Gull were on the shore at West Gerinish. 3 Scaup were on Loch Bee.

Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour and 180 Bramblings were in the Castle Grounds.

North Uist: 2 drake Pintail were on Loch Mor, Baleshare and a juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the shore.

Benbecula: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was by Creagorry Co-op.

South Uist: 2 Water Rails were at Carnan. 3 Scaup (1 male) were on Loch Bee. A juvenile and 2nd winter Glaucous Gull were on the shore at West Gerinish.

Insects: Dotted Borders were trapped in South Glendale last night.

Glaucous Gull and Dotted Border (John Kemp)

5th February;

North Uist: 4 juvenile Glaucous Gulls, a juvenile and 2nd winter Kumlien's Gull; plus 12 Brent Geese and a Pied Wagtail are between Rubh' Arnal and Kyles Paible. The gull formerly reported as an American Herring Gull is now thought to be an unusually dark argentatus Herring Gull due to the following: many of the plumage features such as the largely dark tail; the dark greater covert bar and over-all dark plumage could be seen in either argentatus or smithsonuis. The bill pattern is inconclusive although perhaps rather weak structurally for smithsonius; whilst the under tail and upper tail barring is heavy for Herring Gull it is on the light side for American. The under parts show extensive mottling which is consistent with Herring Gull rather than American which should show a smoother pattern. All the features mentioned above could be seen in argentatus Herring Gull but are unlikely in American Herring Gull (at least one that is seperable). The female Ring-necked Duck and male Scaup are on Loch Sandary. A small Canada Goose was reported with Barnacles on Grenitote machair today. 7 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean. The

Firecrest was also seen in Grenitote today. 3 immature Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare.

South Uist: A female Pochard was at Loch Ardvule. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were in the bay at South Glendale.

Glaucous Gull and Pochard (John Kemp); Otter (John MacGregor)

3rd February:

North Uist: A 2nd winter and juvenile Glaucous Gull were on Baleshare. 8 Fieldfare were at Carnach.

South Uist; 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were between South Glendale and the Eriskay causeway today.

Glaucous Gull and Red-breasted Merganser (John Kemp)

2nd February:

North Uist: The American Herring Gull was near Rubh' Arnal again today along with a juvenile Kumlien's Gull, 3 juvenile and a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull, 17 Brent Geese and a Pied Wagtail. The drake Green-winged Teal, Scaup and female Ring-necked Duck were on Loch Sandary.

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was between South Glendale and the Eriskay causeway today.

American Herring Gull, Glaucous Gull and Wren (Steve Duffield)

1st February:

North Uist: A Corn Bunting was briefly in Carinish this morning.

Benbecula: A Black-tailed Godwit is at Coot Loch.

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and juvenile Kumlien's Gull were feeding on the dead Orca on the Range at LA 3.